Cotton-chopper.



i I Hi;

L. D. GRESHAM.

COTTON CHOPPER.

APPLICATION FILED AUG. 27, 19M.

Wit cam suwutot 2mm AUG. 4, 1908.

2 SHEETS-SHEET 1.

PATENTED AUG. 4, 1908.

No.s95,259.' I L. 1). GRESHAM.

COTTON CHOPPER.- l

APPLIOATIOH FILED AUG. 27, 1907.

I I ammnt; Lombfia'na/Gz samwitness an STATES LOUIS DAVID GRESHAM, OFALBA, TEXAS.

co'r'ron-cnorrnn.

Specification of Letters Patent.

latented Au 4, 1908.

Application filed. August 27, 1907. Serial No. 390,352.

T all whom 'it may concern:

Be it known that LLours DAVID GRESHAM, a citizen of the United States,residing at Alba, in the county of \Vood and State of Texas, haveinvented new and useful Improvements in Cotton-Choppe1s, of which thefollowing is a specification.

This invention relates to that class of devices which are known ascotton choppers and which are used for removing surplus plants'froma'row of growing lants, leaving stands atsuitable intervals f drsubsequent cultivation and growth.

- The present invention has particular reference to an improved cottonchopping device or attachment adapted to be used in connection with anordinary cultivator, the frame of which constitutes the carrying frameof a machine.

The invention has for its objects to simplify and improve theconstruction and operation of the chopping device and related arts.

With these and other ends in view which will readily appear as thenature of the invention is better understood, the same consists in theimproved construction and novel.

arrangement and combination of parts which will be hereinafter fullydescribed and particularly pointed out in the claims.

In the accompanying drawings has beenillustrated a simple and preferredform of the invention; it being, however, understood that.

no limitation is necessarily made to the precise structural detailstherein exhibited, but that changes, alterations and modificationswithin the scope of the invention may be resorted to when desired.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a side elevation of a machine embodying theinvention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view of the same.

Corresjmnding parts in both figures are denoted by like chsincteis ofreference.

T he axle arch 1 of the cultivator which constitutes the carrying frameof the device, is supported upon the transporting wheels 22 and it isprovided with the tongue or longitudinal frame bar 3 carrying the doubletree 4 having depending links 5 for the attachment of the whifiletrees6; said links being connected in the usual manner with the stub axles 7by means of links or connecting rods 8. The tongue 3 supports a springseat 9 for the driver or operator. The cultivator beams 10 are connectedin the customary manner with the stub axles, and said beams are providedwith the standards 11 carrying the'blades 12 said blades beingpreferably mounted upon the standards in such a mannor as to yield tostones, stumps and other obstructions that may be encountered, springsbeing provided to restore the blades to normal operative position. This"construction has been conventionally illustrated in the drawings, but isnot regarded as a part of the present invention.

Vertical adjustment of the cultivator beams may be effected by means ofa lever 13 having a spring actuated stop member'14 engaging a segmentrack 15; said lever being connected with a rock shaft ,16 havi a crank17 which is connected by a fiexi le member such as a chain 18 with across-bar 19 connecting the cultivator beams.

pending brackets 21 affording bearings for a ongitudinal shaft 22carrying a hub 23 provided with radial arms 2-1 upon which the 01101))81blades or hoes 25 are suitably secure The chopper frame is also providedwith bearings for a transverse shaft or axle 26 having transportingtraction wheels 27 r and carrying a bevel gear 28 meshing with a bevelpinion 29 upon the longitudinal shaft 22 to which motion \n'll thus betransmitted. The chopper frame is connected by means of a draft bar 30with a bracket 31 depending from the tongue 3 of the cultivator; thechopper frame is also connected by means of a chain 32 with one end of alever 33 which is fulcrumed in aconvenient position to be operated oractuated by the foot of the driver occupying the seat 9 and who, byplacing his foot upon the lever 33, may tilt said lever, thus elevatingthe chopper frame to an inoperative position above the ground. The lever33 is provided with a. fulcrum piece, preferably in the form of a hookadapted for detachable connection with axle as shown. in Fig. 1 wherebysaid lever may be easily clipped on the axle and re moved therefrom.

Hingedly connected with the depending beams 34 having plow carryingstandards 35, the blades of which are used for barring off the row ofplants tha is to be operated upon. The beams 34 are connected with eachother ends of said beams are suitably spat-ed apart;

and said cross-bar is connected by suitable The chopper frame 20 isprovided with de- 75 a part of the cultivator such as the arched bracket31 are rearvard extending plow by means of a cross-bar 36, whereby therear 110.

ber 39 engaging a segment rack 40 whereby the barring plows may besuitably adjusted and retained in adjusted position.

From the foregoing description taken in connection with the drawingshereto annexed, the operation and advantages of this invent-ion will bereadily understood bv those skilled in the art towhich it appertains.

The chopper frame and the barring plowsmay be readily applied to anycultivator of ordinary construct on, and the expense of a se )aratecarrying frame for these implements W1 1 thus be avoided.

It will be evident that the-barring plows may be used in connection withthe cultivator frame without the chopper. After the plants have attaineda stage of growth which renders it desirable that they should bethinned, or chopped out, the chopper frame is connected with thecultivator frame in the manner described, and the row of plants is 0erated upon by the machine which straddl es the row. The plants will besubjected to the action of the revolving chopper, the blades of whichwill chop out the superfluous plants, leaving stands of the desired diemensions, which may obviously be regulated by using chopping blades ofany desired length; it being evident that by reducing the length of thecho ping blades, the dimensions of the stan s will beincreased, and viceversa. For this reason, it will be found desirable to mount the choppingblades 25 upon the arms 24' in such a manner as to be readllydetachable, and to provide each machine with an equipment of severalsets of chopping blades or hoes of differentdimensions. The plants,having been thinned by the action of the cho )per, will be bedded by theaction of the cultivator shovels which will be arranged to throw theloose dirt in the direction of the growing plants, the roots of whichwill thus be thoroughly protected, thus promoting the safe and vigorousgrowth of the lants.

' Having thus fully described the invention, what is claimed as new is:-

A cotton chopper attachment for a culti vator, comlprislng a main frame,a draft beam rigid y attached to said frame, egrtending u ward therefromand adapted to be )ivotaliy connected to the cultivator at its iorwardend, a wheel carrying axle journaled transversely in the chopper frame,traction wheels thereon, a cho per carrying shaft supported for rotationongitudiually in the frame and geared to said axle, and a lever foreffecting up and down adjustment of the cho )per frame on the pivotalpoint of the draft eam, said lever having a fulcrum piece adapted fordetachable connection with a part of the cultivator.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

, LOUIS DAVID GRESHAM.

Witnesses:-

' J. O. WILLIAMs,

T. S. RiJBBoURo.

